Steps to the bed for the dog, a climbing shelf for the cat: in this interior architect’s home, pets have their own furniture

Artek’s dining table was found secondhand in Tampere. The yellow ceiling lamp is like a sun; Suvi got it on the Tori marketplace ten years ago. The chairs are from Suvi’s grandparents, purchased when her father was a child. Suvi’s grandfather originally painted them in mismatched pairs.

The original 1950s kitchen made a big impression on Suvi and Penuel. Suvi thinks it’s unimaginable that someone would want to tear out a genuine, durable solid-wood kitchen and replace it with particleboard.

Suvi, how would you describe your approach to interior design?

I love that when I come home, all the layers of life can be seen here. I’ve become an increasingly conscious decorator, and my partner and I have acquired most of our furniture secondhand. I like the idea that these items have a history and were important to someone else before me.

Design is also important to me—I get excited when an object is both practical and beautiful. I’m drawn to materials that age slowly and become more beautiful over time.

I cringe at the idea of quick-fix decorating and a home without any feeling. I don’t believe interior design can come together quickly. For a home to feel balanced, you need to live in the space, observe how the light moves, and understand what happens in the building. Decorating is a lengthy process that requires you to listen to yourself.

The entry hall is the only white space in the apartment. Both the shell lamp and the serving cart are online finds from Tori.

This striped 1970s sofa from Muurame was found in Hämeenlinna, thanks to a tip from Suvi’s designer friend. Suvi and Penuel reupholstered it themselves, as the original fabric was worn through. The acrylic paintings are by Suvi.

Penuel works as a 3D modeler. There is plenty of space for his workstation in the corner of the living room. The framed poster, Sad Face, designed by Penuel, is available at the Finnish design poster shop Julistamo.

You advocate preserving a home’s original elements. Tell us more!

I always get angry when I see or hear that something beautiful and old is being torn out just for the sake of renovating. I can’t understand why people would remove solid-wood interior doors, trim, or kitchen cabinets and replace them with particleboard, when restoring them could be an option. When we remove a home’s original features, we erase its history. Once it’s gone, you can’t get it back.

If you’re in a situation where you can’t save the entire kitchen, you can still keep part of it. That way, you also save materials. I’ve seen beautiful examples of kitchens where the original 1950s upper cabinets have been kept, sanded, and painted. They bring a whole new vibe and a nod to the home’s original architecture in an otherwise modern kitchen.

Suvi painted the Ikea Ivar cabinets blue. They contain her painting supplies and the items she needs for design work. “Home is a playground for me. I can freely combine things and colors.”

Suvi’s workspace is in the bedroom. “Those close to me say I see colors in a certain way. It likely comes from painting and creating art.”

Kerttu is taking a nap on Penuel’s desk chair.

What do colors mean to you?

I’m fascinated by color psychology and how colors influence people. This apartment has taught me to use color in a whole new way. When we first moved here, we had a gray sofa and a very limited color palette. Our landlord offered to paint the walls, so I proposed shades that fit this 1950s architecture. Once the walls were painted, it was easy to start decorating boldly. Colors have incredible power. In my paintings, I use them liberally—it’s a world where it feels like nothing can go wrong.

Suvi created a clever design for the cat shelves, which her friends—specialists in metalwork—built based on her plans. Kerttu loves them and often lounges high up. The floor lamp is a Tori find.

Suvi designed and made a prototype of this cabinet as part of her furniture design studies. It’s made of solid birch and birch plywood. “I’d love for it to be produced someday.”

Suvi paints in the bedroom. Her paint-splattered overalls wait by the easel.

How have you taken into account your pets, Kerttu the cat and Dana the corgi, in your home?

I’m an interior architect and furniture designer focusing on pet-friendly design. I wanted to bring something that’s important to me into this field. I created a stool-stair called Loikka, which lets Dana climb into our bed without hurting herself. It’s covered in sisal carpet, which Kerttu loves to scratch. In the living room, there are cat shelves built by a pair of friends who specialize in metalwork, following my design.

I wish there were more beautiful and durable furniture on the market for pet families. We’re not just owners—our pets are our friends and family members. I think it’s important to account for them just as much as the human residents. It’s their home, too.

Suvi designed a handy step stool for Dana to get onto the bed. The steps are covered with sisal carpet, which Kerttu loves to scratch. The bedroom is painted in Tikkurila’s peachy H465 shade. The bed is Ikea’s Gjöra. The paintings are Suvi’s own work. Dana’s health issues were one reason for creating the Loikka steps. Suvi specializes in the needs of pet-owning families.

Suvi and Penuel fell for the building as soon as they arrived in the yard. It was built in 1953 for locomotive drivers.

When Suvi and Penuel wanted to travel with Dana and Kerttu, they bought an old van and turned it into a camper. They designed the interior together, and Penuel created 3D models of their plans. They did the construction work in Penuel’s father’s woodworking hall in Southern Ostrobothnia. The couple plans to travel to Norway.